US Shut Out Canada 5-0 in Olympic Women’s Hockey

MILAN – The United States Women’s National Hockey Team delivered a dominant performance Tuesday, shutting out Canada 5-0 in a highly anticipated preliminary round matchup at the February 10 Olympic Winter Games. The victory secures the top spot in Group A for the Americans and sends a clear message to their rivals as the tournament progresses.

Playing without captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who sustained a lower-body injury in Monday’s win over Czechia, Canada struggled to find any offensive rhythm against a relentless U.S. Defense. Brianne Jenner wore the ‘C’ in Poulin’s absence, but the team appeared disjointed and unable to generate sustained pressure.

Hannah Bilka led the American charge with two goals, while Caroline Harvey contributed a goal and two assists. Kristen Simms and Laila Edwards also found the back of the net for the U.S., who finished the preliminary round with a perfect 4-0-0-0 record. Goalie Aerin Frankel was flawless, posting a 20-save shutout.

The game’s opening goal came early, with Harvey capitalizing on a wrist shot that eluded Canadian starter Ann-Renée Desbiens at 3:45 of the first period. Later in the period, a clever no-look pass from Abbey Murphy found Bilka in the slot, extending the U.S. Lead to 2-0 at 17:18.

The second period saw the Americans further solidify their control. Simms scored early in the period, and Bilka added her second goal of the game, increasing the lead to 4-0. Desbiens was subsequently replaced by Emerance Maschmeyer after Edwards scored at 11:53, but the change in net couldn’t stem the tide.

The U.S. Dominated puck possession throughout the contest, consistently forechecking and limiting Canada’s opportunities to establish offensive zone time. When Canada did manage to gain possession, American defenders quickly closed the gap, forcing turnovers and disrupting any potential scoring chances. Canada’s power play struggles were also evident, failing to convert on two opportunities and committing an offside during a four-on-two rush.

This result marks Canada’s worst-ever defeat in Olympic women’s hockey. The Americans outshot Canada 27-20, and the game was a clear demonstration of their superior offensive firepower and defensive structure.

With the preliminary round complete, both teams now turn their attention to the quarterfinals. The U.S., having won Group A, will face Italy. Canada, finishing second in the group, will play Germany on Saturday. All five teams from Group A, along with the top three from Group B, will advance to the quarterfinal round, which begins on Friday.

Canada’s final preliminary game against Finland, originally scheduled for February 5, was postponed due to multiple cases of norovirus within the Finnish team. Despite the postponement, Canada will finish second in Group A regardless of the outcome of that rescheduled game.

The Americans’ victory builds on their dominant performance in the Rivalry Series, where they outscored Canada 24-7 in a four-game sweep that concluded on December 13, 2026, in Edmonton. The Olympic result suggests that the gap between the two hockey powerhouses may be widening.

The injury to captain Poulin is a significant blow to Canada’s medal hopes. Her absence was keenly felt against the U.S., and her status for the quarterfinals remains uncertain. The team will need to find a way to generate offense and tighten up defensively if they hope to make a deep run in the tournament.

For the U.S., this win is a statement of intent. They have looked sharp and confident throughout the preliminary round, and they are now firmly established as the favorites to win gold. However, they will need to remain focused and disciplined as they navigate the challenges of the knockout stage.